Neville F'do Hospital offered to Govt. by chairman

The Chairman of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) in Malabe, Dr. Neville Fernando yesterday said he offered the ‘Dr. Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital’ to President Maithripala Sirisena to be used as a semi-government hospital.

He said the decision was made by him after realizing that poor patients, who come for treatment to his hospital, could not afford to pay for hospital charges.

The President was recently informed by Dr. Fernando regarding his offer through a letter, however he said the President had not yet responded to it. Dr. Fernando said the letter had been forwarded to the Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne by the President.

He said at the moment, the ministry was going through the proposal made by him, and it might take some time for them to make a final decision on the matter.

“I built the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital and equipped it with all the modern hi-tech equipment. This includes 6 surgical theatres, with one having a camera in the light and which could be focused on the site of the surgery and the picture telecast to the lecture hall where the students are seated. The 1000 bed hospital was constructed at an investment of Rs. 2000 million for the use of students,” Dr. Fernando said.

“When I realized that poor patients who come for treatment cannot afford to pay, I offered the hospital to the President to use it as a semi-government hospital. I also offered to pay the salaries of the professors and the senior consultants. The proposal was mine and in the best interest of the students,” he added. (Piyumi Fonseka)

Comments - 27

Lakal Saturday, 06 February 2016 08:46 PM

This hospital was built due to sabotaging of attempts to send saitm students to Homagama hospital for clinical trainnig. Attempts to sabotage this also is a sin. via DM Android App

lankaputha Friday, 05 February 2016 11:32 AM

If you can explain a bit about what do you mean by Semi Government? I am confuse with the wording.

Suji Friday, 05 February 2016 11:38 AM

Very clever. Dump the unprofitable hospital to the government and use that for the profitable medical collage. Why dont you offer them both for the government?

joe Friday, 05 February 2016 11:43 AM

so who has the last laugh

Kumara Saturday, 06 February 2016 08:42 AM

Going through above comments the message is clear. If I cannot afford to send my child to PMC, no one else should be allowed. Or I must know how they earned that money.Typical Sri Lankan attitude. What a pathetic situation?

Tika Saturday, 06 February 2016 08:48 AM

This may be ill advised decision by the good doctor

Shiyam Friday, 05 February 2016 12:06 PM

Take it positively. The govt need not invest on building a infrastructure like this but directly serve the people and give the investor for his investment. There is no free meal.

Jay Friday, 05 February 2016 12:18 PM

Suji, Just think of what you or the public get .... and not what Dr Fernando get. Learn to appreciate an effort of a person!!

Blair Friday, 05 February 2016 12:31 PM

We really have to appreciate his move.

Yapa Friday, 05 February 2016 12:36 PM

Harassing private sector institutions and forcing them to hand over to the state, a new concept of acquisition.Era of deals. Investors will not come forward.

Bala Friday, 05 February 2016 12:38 PM

Do you want your pound of flesh or a reasonable offer which serves the people. For govt to build and equip a hospital like this will take four years.

lara Friday, 05 February 2016 12:45 PM

Because he will be paying for the staff and the government will have to handle the right rest.

karthi Friday, 05 February 2016 12:48 PM

Dr.Your good offer is well appreciated. Poor patients and specially senior citizens are facing many problems withoutincome to face the medical biils. I am a senior citizen and have paid PAYE tax for more than 30 years when I was in Employment. Now with limited income from saving find diificult to meet medical expense. there will be many like me. Hence Govt. must grab this opptunity and offer some relief.

perera Friday, 05 February 2016 12:51 PM

shrewd nut .I am certain the government is not so foolish and should not allow the minister to handle this aspect as he has vested interests

GC Friday, 05 February 2016 01:09 PM

So, it long to notice poor patients? Or, did other pressures made him think of a way getting some government patronage?

Tissa Jayasinghe Saturday, 06 February 2016 10:53 AM

i think it will be like sri jayawardenapura hospital.it appears to be a very good proposal.

Patriot Friday, 05 February 2016 01:41 PM

Then let the govt build hospitals for the poor.

Hewage Friday, 05 February 2016 01:55 PM

This is a very bad experience of investing in Sri Lanka.I really respect Dr.Neville Fernando for his great act of building a such Institute

Saranga Friday, 05 February 2016 02:05 PM

Cmon so called GOMA practice at private hospitals yet they oppose this, what a bunch of crooks..

Wele Vidane Friday, 05 February 2016 02:07 PM

He trying to develop his private medical college through government.

rajithabey@hotmail.com Friday, 05 February 2016 03:59 PM

This was built with a loan from BOC now that he cant pay the loan instalment , it will anyway be acquired by the BOC.so anyway this belongs to Govt

Fsssey Friday, 05 February 2016 04:08 PM

Very good move. Students will have lot of benefits with more patients coming in if it is collaborated with government. One way of solving the problems of students who are intimidated by the GMOA. We must appreciate the good gesture of Dr. Nrvil Fernando.

Radika Friday, 05 February 2016 04:33 PM

Good move First nationalize the the PMC then can make NFTH as semi government, but keeping profitable part with u can u give in lost part to government is not fare

pami Friday, 05 February 2016 04:39 PM

If you invest some without proper recognition this will be the results

ralahami Friday, 05 February 2016 05:52 PM

I do not understand JVP and University students agitation against the Private medical college. Every year thousand of students do not get a place in Government universities .Parents who can afford send their children to overseas to study which is costing the country million of foreing exchange . Private Medical college , keep the income in the country and pay tax to the government, which is used to pay for Government Universities and other services . They employ local staff and provide employment to local staff . If student do not get sellected to Government Medical College what happen to them , even if you can afford to educate the children privately in Sri Lanka or not, they will be left behind . Parents who could afford to send their children abroad will be able to educate their children, even if they do not get selected to gov Univerties . There is no system in the world that could treat all the people fairly.

BUSHEL Friday, 05 February 2016 07:09 PM

You read the trump. Others r just casting remarks. Hope government will not get caught

BUSHEL Friday, 05 February 2016 07:13 PM

All those parents who pay for private medical collages should show to the revenue department how they got this money

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